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2012 Mazda Mazda6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2012 Mazda Mazda6. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 14% of relevant complaints.
Better than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 57 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 6%).
Does the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 42 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (14%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 7%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Mazda Mazda6 years
Of the 8 Mazda Mazda6 years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 4th-best on engine and transmission share (14%). The worst is the 2018 (68%), the best the 2011 (7%). By volume, the 2012 drew 99 complaints (6 drivetrain), against 135 for the 2011 and 23 for the 2013.
Mazda Mazda6 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Mazda6 problems · 2011 Mazda6 problems · 2012 · 2014 Mazda6 problems · 2015 Mazda6 problems · 2016 Mazda6 problems · 2017 Mazda6 problems · 2018 Mazda6 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Mazda Mazda6
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Mazda Mazda6 fuel system recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, through May 2, 2011, and equipped with 2.5L engine. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking it and causing the fuel tank to have an excessive amount of negative pressure.
Risk: Negative pressure could cause the fuel tank to crack resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module and inspect and clean the canister vent line. If a web was found in the line, the fuel tank and check valve on canister vent line will…
5 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Mazda Mazda6? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 42 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (14%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mazda Mazda6?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 is air bags: 30 of 99 complaints (30%) name it, followed by exterior lighting (28) and structure (12). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 14% of the relevant total.
Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 14% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 94% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Mazda Mazda6 years we score, it ranks 4th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Mazda Mazda6?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 6 in total: 14V114000 (fuel system, gasoline). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Mazda Mazda6 years are better?
Among the Mazda Mazda6 years we track, the 2010 (7%) and the 2011 (7%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (14%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mazda-mazda6
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.